Method and system for configuring a display

• US 6,108,042 A
• Filed: 12/17/1997
• Issued: 08/22/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Richardson, John, Williams, David M., Adams, Robert, Perry, Burt
• Primary Examiner(s): Peng, John K.
• Assistant Examiner(s): DESIR, JEAN WICEL
• Application Number:
  US08/982,223
• Time in Patent Office: 979 Days
• Field of Search: 348/460, 348/13, 348/461, 348/468, 348/474, 348/552, 348/596, 348/7, 348/12, 348/20, 348/462, 348/473, 348/478, 348/484, 348/563, 348/564, 348/569, 348/589, 348/600, 348/429 , 348/526, 348/704, 348/706, 348/432, 348/434, 348/445, 348/588
• US Class Current: 348/460
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/14 Digital output to display device ; Cooperation and interconnection of the display device with other functional units
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/612 for unicast
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/613 for the control of the source by the destination control signals issued by the client directed to the server or network components specially adapted for selective content distribution H04N21/637
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/70 Media network packetisation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4143 embedded in a Personal Computer [PC]
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42204 User interfaces specially adapted for controlling a client device through a remote control device; Remote control devices therefor constructive details of casings for the remote control device H01H9/0235; user interfaces for controlling a tuning device of a television receiver through a remote control H03J9/00; remote control of peripheral devices connected to a television receiver through the remote control device of the television receiver H04B1/205
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/426 Internal components of the client ; Characteristics thereof H04N5/44 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42653 for processing graphics
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42676 for modulating an analogue carrier signal to encode digital information or demodulating it to decode digital information, e.g. ADSL or cable modem
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4305 Synchronising client clock from received content stream, e.g. locking decoder clock with encoder clock, extraction of the PCR packets arrangements for synchronising receiver with transmitter by comparing receiver clock with transmitter clock H04L7/0012; arrangements for synchronising receiver with transmitter wherein the receiver takes measures against momentary loss of synchronisation H04L7/0083
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/43074 of additional data with content streams on the same device, e.g. of EPG data or interactive icon with a TV program
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4312 involving specific graphical features, e.g. screen layout, special fonts or colors, blinking icons, highlights or animations
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4316 for displaying supplemental content in a region of the screen, e.g. an advertisement in a separate window
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/435 Processing of additional data, e.g. decrypting of additional data, reconstructing software from modules extracted from the transport stream
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4622 Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/485 End-user interface for client configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/04 Synchronising for television systems using pulse code modulation H04N7/56
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/088 : the inserted signal being digital

Abstract

An interactive video system is disclosed that processes a video data stream and an associated data stream corresponding to the video data stream. The interactive video system displays a video image defined by the video data stream on a display device and performs interactive command functions specified by the associated data stream. The interactive command functions include commands that specify placement of a video display window, commands that specify parameters of graphical objects that are associated with the video image and commands that specify pixel data or graphics description for the graphical object and commands for placement of selection windows and that specify interactive functions for the selection windows.

Claims

1. A method for providing a video display image, comprising:

receiving a video data stream and an associated data stream corresponding to the video data stream;

displaying a video image defined by the video data stream on a display device; and

performing an interactive command function specified by the associated data stream, wherein the interactive command function comprises a command that specifies a set of parameters that controls the configuration of the video image including determining an area on a display surface of the display device for placement of a video display window that contains the video image.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the interactive command function further comprises

a command that controls the configuration of the video image including specifying a set of pixel data or graphical description commands that correspond to a graphical object.

3. A method for providing a video display image, comprising:

receiving a video data stream and an associated data stream corresponding to the video data stream; and

displaying a video image defined by the video data stream on a display device; and

performing an interactive command function specified by the associated data stream, wherein the interactive command function comprises a command that specifies a set of parameters that controls the configuration of the video image including determining an area on a display surface of the display device for placement of a selection window that corresponds to the video image.

4. A method for providing a video display image, comprising:

receiving a video data stream and an associated data stream corresponding to the video data stream; and

displaying a video image defined by the video data stream on a display device; and

performing an interactive command function specified by the associated data stream, wherein the interactive command function comprises a command that controls the configuration of the video image including specifying an interactive command that is performed if a user selects a selection window, the selection window corresponding to the video image.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising

performing a graphical operation on a computer screen defined by a graphical command, wherein the command controls the configuration of the video image including specifying a color palette for a display screen.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the graphical command further controls specifying placement of a graphical object on a display screen.

7. A method of configuring a display comprising:

receiving at least a portion of a video frame from a transmitter;

receiving a command from the transmitter;

configuring the display according to the command, wherein the command controls the configuration of the at least a portion of the video frame and wherein the command scales a video screen; and

displaying the at least a portion of the video frame in the video screen.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein receiving at least a portion of a video frame from the transmitter includes receiving the at least a portion of the video frame from a satellite transmitter.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein receiving at least a portion of a video frame from the transmitter includes receiving the at least a portion of the video frame from a cable television transmitter.

10. The method of claim 7 wherein receiving at least a portion of a video frame from the transmitter includes receiving the at least a portion of the video frame from a television broadcast transmitter.

11. The method of claim 7 wherein configuring the display includes specifying a coordinate scale.

12. The method of claim 7 wherein configuring the display includes positioning a video screen.

13. A computer system adapted to perform the method of claim 7.

14. The method of claim 7, wherein configuring the display further comprises selecting a text font.

15. The method of claim 7, wherein configuring the display further comprises changing a text background color.

16. The method of claim 7, wherein configuring the display further comprises changing a text background color to transparent.